This paper presents an overview of our recent work on high speed, oxide confined, 850 nm vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs). With proper active region and cavity designs, and techniques for reducing capacitance and thermal impedance, we have reached a modulation bandwidth of 23 GHz and demonstrated 40 Gbps transmission. Using an integrated mode filter for reducing the spectral width we have extended the reach on multimode fiber at 25 Gbps from 100 to 500 m. Improved link capacity was also demonstrated using a more spectrally efficient multi-level modulation format (4-PAM). Finally, a MEMS-technology for wafer scale integration of tunable high speed VCSELs was developed, enabling a tuning range of 24 nm, a 6 GHz modulation bandwidth, and 5 Gbps transmission.

The first error-free data transmission beyond 1 km of multi-mode fiber at bit-rates exceeding 20 Gb/s is demonstrated using a high modulation bandwidth, quasi-single mode (SMSR similar to 20 dB) 850 nm VCSEL. A VCSEL with small similar to 3 mu m aperture shows quasi-single mode operation with a narrow spectral width. The top mirror reflectivity of the VCSEL is optimized for high speed and high output power by shallow etching. A combination of narrow spectral width and high optical power reduces the effects of fiber dispersion and fiber and connector losses and enables such a long transmission distance at high bit-rates.